Make-A-Wish

Earlier this week, WCCO introduced you to Gabe, a competitive 12-year-old from Vadnais Heights. He couldn’t play sports while doctors treated him for lymphoma but now, he’s cancer free. This week, Gabe had some special moments with his hockey heroes.

Samantha Crook is a sweet, soft-spoken first grader with a ready smile. But over the last two years, she’s had to overcome a lot. “In Samantha’s case, she was never sick. She was sick for just about two to three days before she was diagnosed, so we had no indication,” Samantha’s mom, Teri Crook, said.

WCCO is trying to raise 20 million airline miles to grant wishes of kids around the state for Make-A-Wish Minnesota, and we’re having a little fun in the process! WCCO is holding a #Race4Wishes around the Twin Cities. WCCO TV’s Kylie Bearse and WCCO Radio’s John Williams will compete against WCCO TV’s Matt Brickman and 12-year-old Gabe from Vadnais Heights is the other team.

All day Wednesday, WCCO will be sharing the stories of Minnesota kids that Make-A-Wish Minnesota helps. WCCO is trying to raise 20 million airline miles for these kids, to help their wish come true. With the help of our viewers we can send kids like Noah on the trip of a lifetime.

WCCO teamed up with Make-A-Wish Minnesota last March to accomplish something big. Through your generosity, over 18 million airline miles were raised to grant the wishes of local kids. One of those kids was Noah, a teenager from Rochester.

Thursday’s snow was the perfect complement to a Farmington teen’s dream come true. Nick Kraml, 14, is battling a cancer so rare that his mom says only three patients have been seen with it at Children’s Hospital. He’s been responding to treatments though, and was well enough to show up at Canterbury Park’s Snocross track in Shakopee.

Starting Saturday, one of the classic holiday attractions of Minneapolis will be open to the public. Santaland is located on the eight floor of Macy’s downtown store. Denise Cattoor is vice president store manager. “This is the 52nd year of Santaland, and we’re very excited to have this tradition for all of our customers here in the Twin Cities,” Cattoor said.

Thanks to our WCCO viewers and listeners, Tuesday’s Accomplish MN Make-a-Wish drive turned out to be a huge success. Our goal was to raise 10 million airline miles for Make-a-Wish Minnesota through your donations. Those miles would help get kids to their dream destination.

Once a month on the WCCO Saturday morning show, we’re going to try to bring you the story of a different Make-A-Wish child. This time we’re introducing you to Tommy Costello, a 15-year-old whose cancer diagnosis was just the start of a harrowing year for his family.

A couple months ago, Matt Brickman and WCCO photographer Carly Danek were asked to work on a project for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The family of a girl named Tana wished for a video of Tana’s friends and classmates talking about what they’ve learned from having her in class.

Sixteen-year-old Matthew Wood thought he was just taking a look at a collection of classic cars. However, it was just a detour to get to the one that was waiting for him. He knew that a project was in the works through the Make a Wish Foundation to restore his favorite car – a 1968 Dodge Charger. Make a Wish even had to ask Morrie’s Automotive Group for extra help to make a teenage cancer patient’s dream come true.

It wasn’t the game of baseball being played at Target Field before today’s Twins Game. Instead, an 8-year-old from Lino Lakes with Leukemia asked if he could play video games. That wish – and much more — came true.

A 4-year-old Robbinsdale boy has a disease that keeps him from a lot of things other boys his age can do. But Antonio Eric Lewis’ parents learned recently that he would rather sit in a hot tub than his wheelchair.